Marchand, Bergeron, Seguin leading Bruins

Heaven help the rest of the NHL if the Bruins' first and second lines ever start connecting at the same time. Actually, the line between coach Claude Julien's first and second units has become blurred lately.

Heaven help the rest of the NHL if the Bruins' first and second lines ever start connecting at the same time.

Actually, the line between coach Claude Julien's first and second units has become blurred lately. Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Nathan Horton began the season as the No. 1 line and played like it for the first 11 games, combining for 10 goals and 25 points.

Since then, though, they have gone silent and the line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin has been lighting it up. Over the last 12 games, the “second line” has produced 18 goals and 46 points, including seven of Boston's last 10 game-winning goals.

Bergeron (a team-high 16 assists), Marchand (a team-leading 12 goals) and Seguin (six goals in his last eight games) now rank 1-2-3 on the team in scoring.

Meanwhile, Horton has one goal in his last 11 games, Lucic one goal in his last 14 games (and none in his last 10), while Krejci — though still piling up assists — has two goals in his last 14 games.

Coach Claude Julien thinks the problem, at least for Lucic and Horton, is their direction.

“I think they've got to go back to their north-south game,” Julien said after Thursday morning's pregame skate. “I don't think there's a single team in the league that likes to see Lucic forechecking or going after a loose puck.

“Same thing with Nathan Horton. When he's on his game (and) he's committed to it, he's another real physical player that can forecheck and put players on their heels. Those guys are better served when they play that way, and what that does, it eventually backs guys off.”

Lucic had a difficult night against Florida. His lazy drop pass intended for Dougie Hamilton led to a short-handed goal by the Panthers' Shawn Matthias in the second period — the first one given up by Boston this season.

And Lucic appeared to be the guilty party in a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty against the Bruins later in the second period. Florida didn't score on that power play.

It would carry as asterisk, of course, because of the short season, but the Bruins have a shot at setting a new penalty-killing percentage record.

Boston went into Thursday night's game with a league-leading percentage of 92.6 percent, which dwarfed that of runner-up Ottawa (88 percent). The New Jersey Devils set the NHL record last season with a PK rate of 89.58 percent.

The Bruins opened the season by killing off 22 consecutive penalties, then had a 27-kill streak, and are now riding another string of 22 straight after going 2 for 2 against Florida. They have killed off 90 of 97 short-handed situations this season.

Where the Bruins' ability has been most evident is during two-man deficits. Boston has faced seven three-on-five situations this season, totaling 6:36 of ice time, but has surrendered only one goal.

The Bruins' power play, which was an appalling 3 for 31 in the first nine games of the season, is 9 for 41 since — including 5 for 21 in the last eight games.

The Bruins could be without center Chris Kelly for up to two months, or more if his broken shinbone requires surgery.

The tibia, the bone that Kelly fractured in a collision with Ottawa's Chris Neil on Monday night, heals slower than most other bones. Normally, a broken bone has a six- to eight-week recovery time. The Bruins have not said whether Kelly's break will require surgery.

Rich Peverley, who has played lots of center in his career, has taken Kelly's spot in the middle of the third line.

Kelly will be missed for his penalty-killing prowess — he was usually paired with Peverley or Bergeron — and his ability in the faceoff circle, where he ranked fourth in the NHL at 60.6 percent. Peverley is no slouch at 61.2 percent, but isn't among the NHL leaders because he has taken fewer than 200 draws (160 to Kelly's 236). Bergeron ranks second in the NHL at 61.0 percent.

The victory over Florida was Julien's 246th behind the Boston bench, breaking a tie with Milt Schmidt and making him the second-winningest coach in franchise history. Art Ross is the leader with 361 wins. ... The Bruins signed forward Anthony Camara to an entry-level contract. Camara, a third-round draft pick in 2011, has 36 goals, 24 assists, a team-high 80 penalty minutes, and a plus-17 rating in 48 games this season for the OHL's Barrie Colts. ... Defenseman Adam McQuaid sat out with what Julien termed a minor injury — he expects McQuaid back at practice today — and Aaron Johnson suited up in his place. It was just Johnson's fifth game this season and, as a result, Julien juggled his defensive combinations for much of the game.

CDL A DELIVERY DRIVERS Home Every Night! Needed for our Worcester Depot! Drive local - No more spending valuable nights away from your family! As a Direct Store Delivery Representative YOU have the opportunity to make a difference with our customers! Provide excellent customer service; interact in a positive manner with our customers; deliver our products to local stores. Be home every night! Work for a Company that has been around for over 80 years! Minimum of 3 months driving experience with CDL A/B; GED or HS diploma required; Must be able to drive a standard transmission. EEO/Veteran/Disability Growing Strong Since1933!